Books About Problem Solving · 1,025 titles considered

The Best Problem Solving Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about problem solving? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Wheel on the School
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Problem Solving

Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1954

The Wheel on the School

By Meindert DeJong, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Can a group of children bring storks back to their village?

Newbery Medal (1955)
298 pages· 66,608 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 13,371 ratings
$18.95Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Trapped in a library, Kyle must solve puzzles to escape.

336 pages· 47,521 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
6.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 63,451 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

City Spies

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the City Spies series

A young hacker joins a secret spy team to stop a villain and save the world.

378 pages· 64,521 words· Est. 9 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 18,589 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Language of Spells

By Garret Weyr, Katie Harnett (Illustrator)

A dragon and a child unravel Vienna's forgotten mystery: the fate of missing dragons.

299 pages· 53,765 words· Est. 6 hour read
5.5/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,023 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Picture Book · Ages 4–6 · 2018

Yasmin the Builder

A class of students work together to build a city using various materials.

24 pages· 508 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
4.2/5 Goodreads · 299 ratings
$5.95Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Eleventh Trade

A boy must trade up from a keychain to reclaim his grandfather's stolen instrument.

304 pages· 53,985 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 376 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015

Appleblossom the Possum

By Holly Goldberg Sloan, Gary Rosen (Illustrator), Gary A. Rosen (Illustrator)

A young possum named Appleblossom navigates the dangers of the world with her family and learns to rely on her instincts and her brothers to survive

274 pages· 30,695 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 2,102 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2015

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

A young girl discovers a magical sketchbook that brings her drawings to life, but also attracts a monster that feeds on magic.

192 pages· 29,050 words· Est. 4 hour read
5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.8/5 Goodreads · 2,256 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015

The War That Saved My Life

A girl escapes wartime London, seeking freedom from her mother's cruelty.

316 pages· 62,299 words· Est. 8.5 hour read
4.5/5 Goodreads · 119,799 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017

Ban This Book

A fourth grader battles censorship to save her favorite book from being banned.

256 pages· 45,851 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 16,619 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
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Browse by age

Problem Solving Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy, inviting books about problem solving for the youngest readers and listeners.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Ages 2–6 · 1984

Can Little Mouse outsmart the bear to save his strawberry?

Cock-a-Doodle Noodle

Ages 0–3

The Whale in My Swimming Pool

Ages 2–6 · 2015

A boy finds a whale in his pool and must find a way to share the space.

Russell the Sheep

Ages 2–5 · 2005

A sleepless sheep seeks the secret to slumber.

The Story of Ferdinand

Ages 3–5 · 1936

A gentle bull faces the bullfights in Madrid. Will he stay true to himself?

So Light, So Heavy

Ages 0–3 · 2018

Can Elephant balance the seesaw with his weighty challenge?

A Little Stuck

Ages 0–3 · 2017

A boy's quest to free his kite leads to hilariously unexpected results as everything gets stuck in a tree.

Oliver's Tree

Ages 3–5 · 2014

Can an elephant find the perfect tree for hide-and-seek?

Chu's Day at the Beach

Ages 2–5 · 2015

What chaos ensues when a sneezing panda visits the beach?

Little Owl's Orange Scarf
Sale price
$699

Little Owl's Orange Scarf

Ages 2–5 · 2013

Little Owl hates his orange scarf. Can he find a way to stay warm without it?

Rex Wrecks It!

Ages 2–5 · 2014

Can friends turn a dinosaur's chaos into fun?

Fox on a Box

Ages 2–5 · 2003

Discover a funny tale with phonics surprises.

View all problem solving board books
Browse by age

Problem Solving Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about problem solving for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Today I Will Fly!

Ages 4–7 · 2007

Can Piggie defy gravity and fly, or will Gerald's doubts ground her dreams?

Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$699

Bink and Gollie

Ages 6–9 · 2010

A girl and her friend go on adventures and learn about compromise and friendship.

Rocket's 100th Day of School

Ages 4–6 · 2014

A student tries to collect 100 special things for the 100th day of school.

Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game

Ages 6–8 · 1996

Can a photographic memory solve a birthday party mystery?

The Stinky Giant
Sale price
$1580

The Stinky Giant

Ages 5–8

Two siblings try to solve a riddle to save their home from a giant's floods.

Duck, Duck, Porcupine!

Ages 5–7 · 2016

A group of animal friends have various outdoor adventures together.

Ducks in Muck

Ages 4–6 · 1999

Ducks and trucks are stuck in muck. Can they escape?

The Case of the Missing Monkey

Ages 6–8 · 2000

A glass monkey is missing. Can detectives solve the mystery?

Picky Nicky

Ages 3–5 · 1996

A picky eater faces a clever family plan to change her ways.

Houndsley and Catina at the Library

Ages 5–8 · 2020

The library is closing. Can friends save it and find a new librarian?

Corduroy Writes a Letter
Sale price
$499

Corduroy Writes a Letter

Ages 4–6

A bear helps a friend discover the power of speaking up.

Ice Cream Soup

Ages 4–6 · 2013

A boy's ice cream cake turns into a surprising, sweet mess.

Browse by age

Problem Solving Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about problem solving for developing and independent readers.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Ages 14–18 · 2019

A closed murder case reopens, revealing dark secrets and danger.

The Westing Game

Ages 11–15 · 1978

Sixteen heirs must solve a cryptic puzzle to claim a fortune. But what is the real game?

The Phantom Tollbooth

Ages 8–12 · 1961

A mysterious tollbooth leads Milo to a world where boredom vanishes and adventure awaits.

Dealing with Dragons

Ages 10–12 · 1990

A rebellious princess seeks adventure with a powerful dragon, facing magical dangers and unexpected allies.

Jasper Jones

Ages 12–18 · 2009

A secret discovery binds two boys in a town gripped by fear and suspicion.

Danny the Champion of the World

Ages 7–11 · 1959

A group of teenagers discover a hidden world of magic.

Skunk and Badger

Ages 7–11 · 2020

A badger is forced to take in a roommate, a skunk named Skunk, who brings chaos and chickens into his life.

Nooks & Crannies

Ages 8–12 · 2015

Six children, a mysterious mansion, and a secret that changes everything.

The Meaning of Maggie

Ages 9–12 · 2014

A young girl uncovers her father's secret while navigating a year of personal triumphs.

Trouble at the Arcade
Sale price
$699

Trouble at the Arcade

Ages 6–9 · 2010

Young detectives uncover a mystery at the arcade.

Nate the Great

Ages 6–9 · 1972

Nate the Great is tasked with finding a lost picture of Annie's dog Fang.

I Am the Messenger

Ages 14–18 · 2002

A cab driver receives cryptic messages, leading him to help strangers and uncover a hidden mission.

Keep exploring
Books about the libraryBooks about books and readingBooks about building thingsBooks about censorshipBooks about challenging and banning booksBooks about coding and programmingBooks about creativityBooks about curiosity

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